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Marcus Mariota is a volatile Week 5 fantasy Stock Watch option

Marcas Grant

Fantasy editor

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Dawn. Day breaks over the eastern horizon signaling new opportunities while the hope for things unseen rise along with the autumn sun. You zip your jacket and bundle yourself against the crisp air. You check your phone. The notification signals grim news. Your optimism fades. The scent of cinnamon and nutmeg wafting from your travel mug is now turning your stomach. The Stock Watch is your Week 5 fantasy football antacid.

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Eric Christian Smith/Associated Press

Marcus Mariota, QB, Tennessee Titans

For the crime of Marcus Mariota being faster than his hamstrings, we, the football watching public may be sentenced to a Sunday of watching Matt Cassel pilot the Titans' Exotic Smashmouth offense. That is, unless Mariota can make an incredible recovery before Sunday. As of yet, he's doing nothing more than stationary throwing ... which could work if the Miami Dolphins promise to count 10 Mississippis before rushing the passer.

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Peter Read Miller/Associated Press

Marlon Mack, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Revenge is a dish best served cold. And what would be colder than taking carries away from Frank Gore against his former team and giving them to a rookie who is just returning after missing the past two weeks with a shoulder injury? Things have been trending toward Mack getting more work and he could cut into Gore's workload this week.

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Associated Press

New York Giants RBs

I watched Wayne Gallman run the football last week. It wasn't mind-blowing. But it was less mind-numbing than watching Paul Perkins run into the offensive line over and over again. Yet Ben McAdoo will only say that he'll go with the hot hand at running back. That means Perkins' 1.9 yards per carry or Orleans Darkwa's 4.1 ypc (which drops to 2.75 when you remove his one 20-yard run). Why must you steal my joy, Ben McAdoo?

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Scott Boehm/Associated Press

Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

After taking a scary hit last week, Adams is in the concussion protocol even though he's been limited in practice. This will definitely be a wait-and-see situation with the Packers receiver. If he's able to go this week, he'll have a tantalizing matchup against the Cowboys secondary. Otherwise, Geronimo Allison might be back in the mix.

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Associated Press

Kenny Golladay, WR, Detroit Lions

Oh, for the halcyon days of Week 1 when Kenny Golladay brought Fantasy Twitter to its feet to sing hosannas. Since then the rookie has a combined three catches for 33 yards and missed last week's game with a hamstring injury. Perhaps it would be wise to begin intoning psalms of healings over the soft tissue that threatens to keep him out yet again this week. In lieu of flowers, consider adding T.J. Jones to your roster.

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Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Jay Ajayi, RB, Miami Dolphins

The wretched injured knee which held Ajayi out of practice this week doesn't seem to be quite the impediment that Miami's poor run-blocking offense line has been. But without a cross-country or overseas trip to navigate and a visit in the home opener from the Titans' pliable defense, Ajayi is at a fantasy crossroads. If it doesn't happen this week, when?

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NFL Photos/Associated Press

Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

We've reached the Austin Ekeler portion of the fantasy season. I honestly didn't think we'd get here for another month. Alas ... here we are. The 2017 model Melvin Gordon looks a lot like the 2015 model ... only with more fantasy draft sticker shock. We've yet to hit the platoon panic button but talk that Ekeler will get more work makes this a name to save on the mental flash drive.

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Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

Marqise Lee, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars' brass has been loathe to take the governor off the Blake Bortles bus this season. As such, Marqise Lee and his menagerie of shallow crossing routes have found ... well, if not success, then something akin to the positive attainment of productivity. But it's hard to be positively productive when your ribs have been tenderized. The Albino Tiger could be caged this week.

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Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Michael Crabtree, WR, Oakland Raiders

Speaking of sternum-challenged wideouts, things seem to be getting better for Michael Crabtree. After missing last week's date with Denver's No Fly Zone, it looks like Oakland's best fantasy receiver (non-Seth Roberts division) should be back in action this week against Baltimore. If you decide to start Crabtree, realize that your fantasy livelihood will rest on the right arm of EJ Manuel. May the odds be ever in your favor.

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Aaron M. Sprecher/Associated Press

Jamaal Williams, RB, Green Bay Packers

The news is certainly more positive for Williams, who has been practicing in full this week. His Sunday fate remains tied to the medical goings-on of Ty Montgomery. If T-Mont can't go, Williams should be Green Bay's lead back this week. If Montgomery suits up, Williams moves down a rung on the ladder. Aaron Jones remains in limbo, awaiting redemption.